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“Jimin? Hello? Jimin!”the annoyed voice shouting directly into his ear was finally enough to regain Jimin’s attention.
“Ouch,” he hissed into the phone, scowling at the boisterous laughter that echoed through the line.
“Sorry, but I had to get your attention somehow, didn’t I?”
“What was the point of this enlightening phone call, Jungkook?” Jimin’s words dripped with sarcasm.
“Don’t be a dick, Min Min, we haven’t seen each other for an entire year! I’m sure you must be suffering horribly from being apart from your best friend.”
“My best friend is Taemin now.”
“What?” the younger man squawked. “The guy from your dance team? What the hell, no. I’m your best friend and we pinky promised we’d be best friends until the day we died. I hear your breathing, which means you’re alive which meansyou can’t replace me.”
“You know I was kidding, Kook. I could never replace you,” Jimin smiled softly, remembering the first day of second grade when he stumbled into the grubby first grade version of Jungkook, crying because he had been pushed by one of the older kids and had fallen down and hurt his ankle.
Jimin had always been the bleeding-heart type and he had used all the strength in his tiny body to half-carry, half-drag the younger boy to the nurse’s office. He stayed with him the entire time even though that meant missing recess. They’d been best friends since that very day.
“Hmm, while I believe Taemin won’t take my place as number one man in your life, I have a feeling Namjoon will,” Jungkook sounded positively smug.
“Shut up,” Jimin blushed. “And you are not the number one man in my life—that’s my dad!”
“That's untrue but whatever. Don’t change the topic. Namjoon?”
“Nothing is going on between me and Namjoon.”
“That I know because you’re shy as fuck and are complacent making goo goo eyes at a guy until he falls off the face of the earth or your eyes fall out.”
“It’s hard for me to put myself out there,” Jimin whined.
“But how else will you know if there’s a chance at a relationship? You crushed on Taehyung all four years of high school and claimed you never made a move because he was too straight—despite the fact that he got drunk at parties and did Jell-O shots on the abs of every member of the swim team—and when we went to college you squeaked syllables instead of intelligible words at Yoongi and that guy definitely liked you back.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Are you serious? He bought you coffee and scones every day, walked you to all your classes, and told you that you had inspired the composition of many of his songs.”
“I was just a friend to him though.”
Jungkook released an exasperated sigh.
“You’re impossible. Okay, Jimin, you were supposed to use this summer to R and R and all those hard-earned vacation days and personal days were perfectly compiled so you could spend three months in Malta learning how to have fun again.”
“I know how to have fun!”
“When was the last time you went out clubbing?”
“Um, next question.”
“When was the last weekend you didn’t make yourself into a blanket burrito, locked up in your apartment, watching corny rom-coms?”
“…I hate that you know me so well.”
“You’re pathetically predictable.”
“Fuck you.”
“I’m honest with you because I care about you and I believe you deserve to let loose and relieve stress. You work so hard, Jimin, and you don’t give yourself any days off. Make the most of this summer. Go skinny dipping. Drink tons of rum. Fuck half the island.”
“Jungkook!”
“Okay, if that’s too scandalous then just fuck Namjoon. You know you want to.”
Jimin’s attention drifted back to the heated volleyball game occurring further down the beachside. One team was captained by the owner of the small yet picturesque hotel Jimin was staying at, Seokjin Kim. The other team was led by Seokjin’s younger brother and the man who had become a constant in many of Jimin’s dreams. They were wonderful dreams too…
“I don’t just want to sleep with him,” Jimin murmured sadly, watching Namjoon rush to attend a young teenage boy who had scraped his knee on the sand when he dived for the ball. “Even if I were to chalk up the courage to talk to him and hell, ask him out and seduce him, it wouldn’t be enough. I’d want more.”
“Start with a conversation that isn’t about your diva self needing extra conditioner.”
With precisely 3 weeks to go before Jimin was hopping on a return flight to San Francisco, the young program designer decided it was time to act like a big boy and stop stuttering and/or hiding under his sunhats whenever Namjoon came too close.
“Hi,” Jimin mumbled quietly.
“I’m sorry what was that, sir?” Namjoon’s polite front-desk smile was dazzling enough to make Jimin’s heart skip in his chest and the small peek at his adorable dimples only reminded him of how stunning they were in all their glory.
“Oh, um, sorry. I said hi,” Jimin repeated lamely.
“Ah. Hi,” Namjoon’s smile widened. “Did you need something? More conditioner?”
Jimin’s face burned and he quickly shook his head.
“No no, I have everything I need in my room. I just…I came to say hi.”
“Specifically to me or do you go around greeting everyone on the island?” Namjoon joked.
“Ah, no, I’m not that extroverted type of tourist.”
“Well, that makes me feel very special then.”
Jimin ducked his head, resisting the urge to touch his face because he knew his hand would feel how hot his cheeks had turned. He didn’t know what else to say and was aware that Namjoon only knew him as Conditioner Boy or perhaps only as Guy in Room 234, so he was prepared to walk away in dejection when Namjoon’s rich voice addressed him once more.
“There’s the most beautiful cove hidden near the start of the forest on the far-left side of the beach. I don’t know if you’ve explored that area or walked that far down, but if you’re interested, I’d love to show it to you.”
“To me?” Jimin pointed a finger at his chest and scanned the area, though the only ones in the lobby were them and a woman with headphones on who was watering the plants.
“Yes, to you, Jimin.”
“How do you know my name?”
“I was the one who checked you in, remember? Plus, I make it a point to learn the names of all our guests. Our hotel isn’t big and luxurious, but we do promise the best customer service and overall experience. I hope we’ve delivered on that?”
“Yes! You super did!”
You super did? Jimin wanted to bash himself in the face for sounding like an overexcited toddler, but he kept a smile fixed on his face and watched Namjoon laugh in amusement.
“I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying your stay.”
“I am,” Jimin spoke evenly, curbing his enthusiasm. “I can genuinely say I’ve never liked a hotel more.”
“High praise. Unless you haven’t stayed in many hotels,” Namjoon winked and Jimin nearly gasped at the gesture and how it added a mischievous glow to Namjoon’s handsome features.
“I’ve stayed in a good amount. I travel—for work mostly—and, um, your hotel has been my favorite,” he finished bashfully and Namjoon laughed.
“You’re a sweetheart, Jimin.”
“Oh. Thank you,” Jimin said softly, returning Namjoon’s warm smile.
“Why don’t you meet me in front of the hotel in,” Namjoon paused to check his watch. “Two hours. It’ll be later in the afternoon, but we’ll have plenty of sunlight!”
“That sounds great. See you later.”
“Bye!” Namjoon waved and Jimin gave a tiny wave back before darting back to his room, immensely proud of what he achieved.
He immediately texted Jungkook to rub it in his face.
Tell me how your date goes ;) his best friend replied moments later, which only made Jimin blush all over again.
It’s not a date
YET
Jimin didn’t reply to that, but he couldn’t deny that a large part of him wanted to think of their meeting later as a date. That was far too presumptuous, though. He didn’t even know if Namjoon was into guys and if he was, he was probably dating a model or a rocket scientist or someone who was both gorgeous and intellectually impressive. Namjoon only deserved the best.
Jimin tried not to dwell on the fact that he was three levels below impressive, somewhere along the lines of ‘Attractive enough to glance at.’ His last boyfriend has used that exact description various times. Each time hurt more than the last.
“Jimin!” the taller blonde bounded out of the hotel a minute after their designated time, grinning so broadly Jimin worried his dimples would explode.
Is he that happy to see…me?Jimin thought to himself.
“Hey,” Jimin said out loud. “It was really nice of you to offer me to show me the cove, but if you’re too busy I understand.”
“Nah, it’s a slow day given that it’s a Tuesday. Tuesdays are even slower than Mondays if you can believe it. Jin can handle the front desk with the help of our part-time employee. Don’t worry.”
“Okay,” Jimin nodded, falling into step with Namjoon, whose longer legs were clearly slowing their pace so Jimin’s could match it.
“What brought you to Valletta out of curiosity?” the taller man asked after a minute of comfortable silence.
“My best friend Jungkook spent a week here for a work conference. He works in marketing at a company in Spain, so he travels around the area often. He recommended this exact spot and your hotel to me. ‘It’s affordable, the water is insanely blue, and the men are hot’ were his exact words,” he laughed.
“The men but not the women?”
Jimin winced at his easy slipup.
“I-I’m sure the women are t-too. I’m just n-not so…interested in them,” Jimin stammered, though he chose to be honest and hope for the best.
If Namjoon was a homophobic jerkoff then it would be simple to forget about him and move on.
“Women are beautiful, of course, but I’m not interested in that way either,” Namjoon replied casually, completely unaware of the internal turmoil Jimin had been dealing with.
“Oh?” Jimin made a noise of surprise.
“I’m gay,” Namjoon clarified. “It’s not a big deal and around here people are pretty open-minded. It’s one of the reasons we chose to open the hotel here. We wanted to ensure guests of all backgrounds could be comfortable here.”
“Were you born here?” Jimin asked, continuing the conversation and only taking a second to celebrate the fact that Namjoon wasn’t 100% unattainable.
Theoretically, there was some chance.
“No. Both Seokjin and I were born in Seoul, but I was 9 and he was 12 when our parents decided to move to Valletta to pursue their lifelong dream of owning their own business. My mom loved the world and she loved people and hospitality was her calling.”
“I haven’t seen your mom or your dad. Did they leave the hotel in your care to retire somewhere else?” Jimin wondered.
“No…My mom died two years after the grand opening of the hotel. I was 13 then.”
“Oh my god. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for your loss,” Jimin added, wishing he hadn’t been so careless with his questions.
“It’s okay, Jimin. I’ve grown up a lot since she passed, and it isn’t painful to talk about her. My brother and I don’t want to forget her. We fought to keep this hotel to honor her memory and her dream. The reason you haven’t seen my father—who is very much alive—is that he turned his back on us after Mom died. He wanted to sell the hotel to some corrupt hotelier who wanted to turn it into an entire resort, including destroying local habitats to expand it and add a golf course,” he scoffed. “My father wasn’t the same after her death and he took it out on us. And himself. Last we heard; he was drinking his days away in some cheap apartment he’s renting in Taiwan.”
“That must have been difficult to deal with. You and your brother are making your mom proud, though. The hotel is so lovely!” Jimin tried to be positive after the heavy truths Namjoon had shared with him, a fact the taller blonde didn’t miss.
“I appreciate your optimism,” he smiled. “Jin and I have poured everything into the hotel, and we hold a deep love for it, but the truth is business isn’t booming and the bills get harder and harder to pay. We both gave up on childhood dreams to continue our mom’s and I’m not saying I regret the decision, but I wish it wasn’t turning out this way.”
“The hotel is going under?” Jimin worried at his lip. “I can’t believe it.”
“It’s difficult competing with the big chains and we don’t have an impactful online presence. We’re on Yelp, but we don’t have our own webpage or any following. It all depends on word of mouth and that’s not as effective. Seokjin and I are grandfathers when it comes to technology and we don’t have the funds to hire an advertising firm or a tech expert to help us out.”
“I can do it,” Jimin instantly replied.
“You’re offering to help us?” Namjoon asked, seeming confused.
“I’m a program designer. I work in Silicon Valley and technology is, like, in my blood. Creating a website is easy and I can get Jungkook’s advice on the best marketing campaign to attract guests. It matters where you advertise, and it doesn’t have to be too expensive either.”
“Jimin, you don’t have to do that,” Namjoon protested, but Jimin shook his head, determined to convince Namjoon to accept his assistance.
“This falls under my area of expertise and I’d love to help. Seriously. Let me.”
Namjoon hesitated, but he could see the resoluteness in Jimin’s pretty brown eyes, so he sighed and reluctantly nodded.
“Okay. Thank you so much. I’ll tell Seokjin and I’m sure he’ll agree to give you a discount on the room for the remainder of your stay with us.”
“No, that’s not necessary. I’m not doing this to receive anything in return.”
“Jimin, you don’t owe us anything and if this is coming from a place of pity because of what I told you—”
“I don’t pity you, Namjoon, please don’t think that!” Jimin refuted. “I like you.”
Namjoon raised an eyebrow and Jimin went into full-on ramble mode as he backpedaled.
“Uh, so, um, what I meant by ‘I like you’ is that I like you as a person and as a friend—let’s be friends—because you’re so nice and I’ve seen you feeding the stray dogs and organizing games for the kids who stay in the hotel and all the nearby ones too. You, um, you’re cool and I admire you and I like you—again in a purely platonic way ha ha—and I would be happy to do this.”
By the time Jimin forced his mouth shut, Namjoon was biting his lip to contain his laughter.
“Thanks, Jimin. And, by the way, I like you too. As a person, as a friend, and in a purely platonic way,” he winked, regaining their earlier pace as they approached the cove.
Jimin knew his cheeks were on fire—when weren’t those damn things betraying him? —but he bit his tongue and kept walking, listening to Namjoon talk about all the sea creatures residing in the cove and how important their ecosystem was to the entire planet.
Jimin almost regretted his proposal to create a website and marketing campaign for the hotel because it would mean copious amounts of time with Namjoon. Namjoon, who had perfect proportions and glossy golden hair. Namjoon, who was golden-skinned and bright-eyed. Namjoon, who cooed at tiny crabs and whispered pretty words to starfish. Namjoon, who he was half in love with.
“You should have offered to suck his dick while you were out there giving out favors,” Jungkook snickered and Jimin directed two middle fingers at him, appreciating the Skype call screen to properly show his best friend what his perverse comments got him.
“Shut up and tell me what you have for me.”
“I earn six figures for a reason, babe,” Jungkook pretended to flip his hair over his shoulder. “I have designed an absolutely foolproof advertising campaign. It’s not too costly and it’s guaranteed to increase revenue by at least 15% in the first year of implementation. And once you build the website and put them on the map, the sky’s the limit.”
“Did you email it to me?”
“Just did,” Jungkook tapped a key on his laptop.
“Yep, I got it,” Jimin clicked the file open and gave it a brief scan. “Wow, this is detailed and, I hate to say it, but it’s impressive.”
“I’m a god, I know. Worship me,” Jungkook spread his arms out and threw his head back dramatically.
“Are you trying to look like Jesus? That’s sacrilege, Jungkook, cut it out. Also, I need to go. I told Namjoon I’d meet him for dinner so we can go over some design ideas for the website’s themes and color schemes.”
“Oh ho ho so you’re doing dinner dates now, are you?”
“It’s not a date! It’s purely professional.”
“Is that so? Then, why are you only meeting with Namjoon and not his brother too? Aren’t they co-owners?”
“Seokjin has other dinner plans,” Jimin blushed. “Shut up,” he grumbled, seeing the delight on Jungkook’s boyish features.
“Wear something slightly see-through and use the shimmery body lotion you ordered online. Give him a taste but not a full bite if you know what I mean,” the brunette waggled his eyebrows.
“Do you even know what you mean?” Jimin made a face. “That’s not what tonight is about. I don’t need to put any extra effort into my outfit. I may wear sweats.”
Thirty minutes later Jimin entered the small restaurant Namjoon had chosen, which was located a few blocks from the hotel. He ran a nervous hand through his hair and adjusted his silver shirt, which was only a touch transparent and showed off his collarbones (collarbones that were glimmering under the lights because of the body lotion).
“Hey, Jimin,” Namjoon stood from the bench by the hostess’ podium, where he had been waiting for the younger man to arrive. “Wow, you look amazing.”
Jimin couldn’t help but preen at the appreciative gaze Namjoon gave him from head to toe. He would never admit to following Jungkook’s suggestions, but he could be truthful with himself, at least. Jungkook’s advice was spot-on.
“Thank you. So do you.” Jimin giggled, which was absolutely true.
Namjoon’s tight denim shorts and silky dress shirt accentuated his taller, broader frame. Namjoon made him feel small, but in a delightful way.
“I reserved a table for us. It’s Friday and there aren’t many restaurants in this area, so without one we’d have to scavenge food from the hotel pantry and that’s mostly cereal and ramen to be honest.”
“You guys don’t cook?” Jimin chuckled, thanking the hostess when she sat them at their table.
“Seokjin does. He cooks for the both of us. I’m a disaster in the kitchen and no one wants me in there potentially burning the kitchen down.”
“Have you set anything on fire before?” Jimin raised a brow.
“…A pot. And a rice cooker. Separate occasions and three years apart! I don’t think that makes it better,” Namjoon sighed.
“Not really,” Jimin laughed. “At least your brother can cook. He’ll keep you alive.”
“I’d definitely starve without him or consume so much ramen the sodium killed me. Jin’s a talented chef too. All the dishes for the complimentary breakfast are prepared by him. All I do is set the tables and serve water. If you notice I’ve never served the tea and coffee.”
“You aren’t trusted around boiling hot beverages?” Jimin guessed.
“Oh god, I sound like a train wreck of a person, don’t I?” Namjoon groaned. “Seokjin jokes that if I were married off my dowry would have to be in the millions to compensate for my clumsiness and tendency to destroy what I touch.”
“We all have our faults,” Jimin reassured him.
“It’s not like I want to be marriage material right now, but boyfriend material would be nice. I’ve only had one serious relationship and that ended over a year ago. It’s hard to maintain a romance when you’re as busy as I am and I’m pretty much tied to my work, you know? I can’t go on vacation and traverse the world. Jin needs me here.”
Jimin nodded, able to commiserate on the difficulties of maintaining a love life when you were a workaholic. Jungkook may have badgered him about dating and getting out of his shell, but the truth was Jimin was always bogged down by work and finding love wasn’t only time-consuming, but near-impossible. Or so Jimin thought. The few dates he had managed to go on earlier that year—after the tragedy that was his last break-up—had been disheartening. There hadn’t been anyone Jimin felt comfortable sharing his heart with.
“I’m sorry. We were supposed to be talking about the website, not my romantic woes,” Namjoon sighed.
“No, please. I’m happy to listen if you need to, you know, vent.”
“Thanks. Jin loves me and all, but he gets annoyed by my frequent pity parties. According to him, the right guy is on his way to me right now and I just need to shut up and be patient without letting existential anxiety affect me. Easier said than done…”
“My best friend repeats something similar. He seems to think my soulmate is in front of my face and it’s that easy. I’m just too blind to see him.”
Namjoon raised an eyebrow interestedly as Jimin fully processed his own words.
“Oh! Oh no,” Jimin’s hands fluttered nervously in the air. “I didn’t mean r-right in front of my f-face, like you because y-you’re what’s right in front of my face. I-I meant in general!”
Namjoon only grinned at him.
“What?” Jimin blushed.
“I knew what you meant, Jimin. It was just funny to watch you ramble so adorably.”
“Shut up,” the younger man muttered, face completely pink.
“Whatever you say,” Namjoon chuckled. “Are you hungry? Let’s get the waiter’s attention for drinks and appetizers before we delve into the work stuff.”
“Okay,” Jimin said, wondering if it would be necessary to communicate in only one word phrases lest he humiliate himself yet againin front of Namjoon with his word vomit.
Two and a half weeks later Jimin was lounging on a pool chair, clicking away at his laptop as Namjoon did his regular lifeguard shift.
“Wow,” Jimin gasped, eyes wide and bright.
“Is everything okay?” Namjoon instantly asked, his lifeguard chair mere inches from Jimin’s.
“More than okay. I finished it!”
“No way,” Namjoon’s jaw dropped. “The website’s ready to launch?”
“It’s already launched,” Jimin winked mischievously and Namjoon barked a loud, joyful laugh.
“Oh my god, this is incredible! Our own website! Jin’s going to lose his mind. My shift ends in 30 minutes and then I have to give the pool a quick clean. Would you be interested in getting drinks after that?”
“I’d love that,” Jimin smiled.
In the past couple of weeks it had gotten easier to be around Namjoon. The other man still made his pulse race and his nerves tingle, but at the same time Jimin had found a degree of comfort in his steady presence. Namjoon was just so kind-hearted and soft. How could Jimin be afraid of a man who sang lullabies to baby birds he rescued after he found them chirping sorrowfully, lost and hurt after falling from their nests.
Namjoon was attractive (so handsome Jimin was convinced the man had walked straight out of a fairy tale), but Jimin was utterly taken by the beauty within him. Namjoon’s soul was resplendent. He radiated goodness and warmth and the world was a better place because Namjoon lived in it.
Jimin was more than aware that these thoughts were three levels above intense and Namjoon only saw him as a friend, but he couldn’t help himself. Whenever he was with Namjoon, he wanted to toss away all his inhibitions and let himself simply existwith the gorgeous man. It was difficult to articulate, but Namjoon brought out the parts of Jimin he had long ago buried and assumed had vanished. No one else made Jimin feel so whole and so at home in his own body and mind except for Jungkook and that was the product of decades of friendship. He’d known Namjoon for a mere month and yet here he was—counting down the days until he had to be parted from the most wonderful man on the planet.
“All done!” Namjoon clapped, startling Jimin out of his thoughts.
The shorter blonde realized that while he had been obsessing over his feelings for Namjoon, the man in question had closed off the pool area and cleaned it. It was also noticeably darker.
“Oh,” Jimin vocalized his bafflement.
“You seemed to be deep in thought. I didn’t want to interrupt, sorry.”
“I wasn’t thinking about anything in particular,” Jimin fibbed. “Just zoned out. Are we hitting the bar then?”
“Yep,” Namjoon grinned. “Jin’s waiting for us by the front desk. He was able to get our part-time employee to take the night shift, so we are good to go!”
Jimin had met with Namjoon’s brother a few times throughout the week and it seemed some families received all the superior genetics while others were left with slim pickings. Perfect DNA was the only explanation for how Seokjin and Namjoon Kim were so drop-dead gorgeous. Despite his intimidating good looks, Jin was nothing if not approachable. It had to do with his sense of humor and penchant for telling corny jokes only Jimin’s dad would laugh at. Jin didn’t need his audience to find him funny, however, because he was happy making himself laugh until he wheezed. It was quite a sight.
“Ah there they are. MiniMoni!” Jin shouted as they approached.
“MiniMoni?” Jimin asked, puzzled.
“Yep. Mini—that’s you and Moni—that’s Namjoon, inspired by his ridiculous stage name from sixth grade when he swore he was a gangster rapper from the South Side.”
“Jin,” Namjoon hissed.
“Yes, Rap Monster?” Jin smirked evilly.
“Rap Monster?!” Jimin squealed, delighted at the revelation.
“I was 12 and I was going through a phase!” Namjoon pleaded his case.
“I wish I’d known you then,” Jimin laughed.
“Because it would have been a treat making fun of him?” Jin suggested as he cackled.
“No, of course not. Because I would have liked to be your friend. You have to had possessed a great deal of confidence to call yourself Rap Monster. 11-year-old me would have benefitted from some of that.”
“I think if we had met as kids, we would have been friends. Just like we are now,” Namjoon’s smile was dimpled and sweet, making Jimin’s traitorous heart skip a beat.
“Alright, lovebirds, hold the sap until I’m choking down tequila. Let’s go!” Seokjin clapped demandingly, leading the way towards the center of the city.
Twenty minutes later they were crammed in the tiniest booth known to man in a crowded pub Jin swore served the cheapest yet strongest drinks in Valletta. Jin sat on a bar stool that had been pulled up to the table, while Namjoon and Jimin were half on top of each other on the wooden bench side of the booth. The only way for Namjoon to steady himself and not have his ass hanging precariously over the edge of the seat was by slinging one arm over the back of the booth, essentially around Jimin’s shoulders, and by letting one of Jimin’s thighs sit over one of his.
Jimin just prayed he wouldn’t start hyperventilating at the close contact. He needed alcohol and he needed it fast. How else was he supposed to act normally when so much of his bare skin was touching Namjoon’s?
“I want to raise a glass to Jimin, our resident mochi and our savior,” Jin whooped, raising his third shot glass.
“I told you to stop calling me a gelatinous dessert food,” Jimin grumbled good-naturedly, raising his mojito anyway.
“To Jimin, the cutest mochi in the world!” Jin said, continuing as if Jimin hadn’d spoken.
“To Jimin!” Namjoon cheered, clinking his prosecco glass.
“Thanks, guys,” Jimin ducked his head shyly. “I was happy to help.”
“Your check-out date is in exactly four days, isn’t it?” Jin suddenly asked.
“Uh, yeah. Why?”
“Well, I just wish you weren’t a tourist on vacation. Would you ever consider staying in Valletta on a more…permanent basis?”
Jimin chanced a look at Namjoon, who was glaring at his older brother.
“Do you mean moving here for good?” Jimin asked Jin.
“Yes! It’s an enchanting place, don’t you think? The food’s great, the locals are nice, and there’s certainly eye candy to enjoy. Isn’t that right, Namjoonie?”
Namjoon met Jimin’s gaze and blushed.
“You’re guaranteed a job at the hotel. You’d be the Director of Operations and Communications, which I do realize sounds overly fancy when our staff consists of a total of 5 people, two of those being part-time.”
“Stop it, Jin. Jimin has his own life far away from here,” Namjoon hissed. “You’re not going to convince him to throw it all away. What would be the point?”
Before Seokjin could open his mouth, Namjoon was pouring the remains of his glass down his throat and mumbling something about needing another drink. Jimin frowned, watching the tall blonde walk away, head down.
“I know I shouldn’t be betraying Namjoon's privacy like this, but as the elder brother I get to decide when it’s in his best interest for me to spill his secrets and this is one of those times. Jimin, my brother likes you. A lot.”
“O-oh. Really?” Jimin’s eyes were wide at the information.
“And he’s deep in it too,” Jin snorted. “I’ve heard him singing songs under his breath even at the front desk when he’s disturbing the eardrums of our precious guests!”
Jimin gave a little laugh. “Is he that bad?”
“He’s worse, but it’s adorable. He’s a huge softie, which you may have noticed, but you haven’t known him his entire life like I have and Namjoonie is prone to giving too much of himself away to people who don’t deserve it. For once…I think he’s found someone who does deserve his giving heart and his gentle soul.”
Jimin understood that Seokjin was giving him his blessing, but he was left in a state of shock. It was a relief to hear that his feelings were reciprocated, but Namjoon’s earlier point still stood. Jimin had a job, an apartment, an alternate reality basically that he had to return to in two weeks. He couldn’t afford to drop everything and move to a Mediterranean island even if he believed that Namjoon Kim was the Prince Charming of all those pretty stories Jimin had grown up hearing.
“I’m sorry, Jimin, have I made you uncomfortable? I overwhelmed you, shit. Namjoon’s right, my mouth is too big, and I always stick my foot in it,” Jin rambled.
“I am overwhelmed, but I’m also glad you told me. I…I really like Namjoon. He may be the most wonderful human being I’ve ever come across, but he’s also a 13-hour plane ride away from Santa Monica and I simply don’t believe in long distance. The other option is even more daunting. Moving halfway across the world for a guy I’ve known less than two months? That’s insane.”
“I’m not disagreeing with that. It’s a questioning your sanity type of mood, but it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, right? Not even your parents, your co-workers, your best friend. Would you want to do this? Is there any part of you that envisions a life here…a life with Namjoon?”
Jimin considered the questions, but before he could attempt to formulate a response, Jin was finishing his last shot and standing up.
“Where are you going?” Jimin asked.
“I have another commitment. The sexy kind of commitment,” his smirk was positively lewd. “Plus, I didn’t actually want you to answer my questions. Those answers are only for you. Whatever you choose to do, rest assured that there will be people who care about you here in Valletta and we will welcome you with open arms if you can only visit once every other year or if you never return, but send us a postcard sometime,” Jin pressed a kiss to the top of Jimin’s head. “Good night, little mochi.”
And then he was gone, leaving a stunned Jimin behind. He had never felt such warmth and support from anyone who wasn’t Jungkook. He wasn’t particularly close to anyone in his family and had superficial relationships with his co-workers and boss. Yet, in the span of seven weeks two people had sneaked their way into his heart—one of which Jimin wasn’t even aware of. Jin treated him with the same brotherly affection he did Namjoon, his actual flesh and blood. Jimin couldn’t stop himself from thinking how loving he would be as a brother-in-law.
“Did Jin get a booty call?” Namjoon chuckled, sitting down in the vacated stool.
“There was no call, but he did say he had a sexy commitment. I assume that means a hook-up?”
“That’s the only kind of relationship my brother feels comfortable with. He’s like the poster child for non-monogamy.”
“Really? But he seems so…supportive of your monogamous love life,” Jimin chose his words carefully, not wanting to rat out Jin and cause Namjoon to be angry with his brother.
“Yeah, when it comes to me Jin turns into a Catholic priest with how desperate he seems to have me walking down the aisle,” Namjoon snorted with a fond shake of his head.
“All Jungkook encourages me to do is sleep around.”
“Well, taking care of your physical needs is important. He means well.”
“Yeah, he does,” Jimin smiled slightly at the reminder of his best friend.
“Do you miss him?” Namjoon asked, deciphering the expression on the younger man’s face.
“Yeah. I don’t get to see him as much now that we’re both working full-time and our schedules keep us busy during holiday seasons too. He’s in LA, so he isn’t that far from me, but the timing fails us. He may as well be in China.”
“That’s tough. I’m sorry.”
“That’s why I could never do long-distance. Maintaining my friendship and my relationship with my parents is complicated enough. I couldn’t deal with the same disconnect with my partner.”
Jimin’s eyes snapped up from the glass in his hand, giving in to the subconscious urge to study Namjoon’s reaction to his words, echoing the same sentiment he’d shared to Jin before. Namjoon worried at his lip thoughtfully, brows furrowed as he contemplated something. There was a pause before Namjoon’s jaw tightened and he met Jimin’s gaze directly, a surprising fire alight in the depths of his almond eyes.
“Don’t go.”
“What did you say?” Jimin breathed, nearly dropping the drink he’d raised to his lips.
He set it down carefully on the table and gaped at Namjoon who gulped nervously but didn’t shy away from the force of his words.
“Don’t go,” he repeated. “Please, Jimin. Stay. Not just for me. I believe you would be happier here. You don’t like your job; all it does is give you stress migraines and you aren’t even compensated as you should be.”
“Namjoon—”
“I know, okay? I know I’m asking for a lot and it’s probably making me look pathetic because we barely know each other, but—but I don’t care! You’re just,” Namjoon released a shaky exhale. “You’re what I think I’ve been looking for my entire life without even realizing it. You’re beautiful, inside and out, and you make me want to smile all the freaking time and sure I feel like a birthday party clown, but I’m happy! I-I’m happier because of you, because I met you.”
“You make me really happy,” Jimin whispered.
“Then please—please stay,” Namjoon tentatively stretched a hand out and let it hover over one of Jimin’s dainty hands before lowering it and letting his long, elegant fingers meet Jimin’s smaller, chubbier ones.
Jimin bit his lip, feeling tears spring to his eyes.
“Oh, I’ve made you cry! Shit, I’m sorry,” Namjoon panicked, fluttering his free hand around himself, reaching out towards Jimin’s face nearly four times but pulling back every time.
“Don’t apologize. Everything you said was so lovely,” Jimin sniffled, not fighting the gentle waterfall of teardrops as they came. “B-but I need s-some time. To think,” he clarified.
Namjoon nodded so fervently Jimin worried he would hurt his neck.
“Take all the time you need. I won’t come near you! I promise I don’t want to pressure you in any way.”
“I don’t want you to run away from me,” Jimin sighed. “It’s also a small hotel—it’syour hotel—so us running into each other is a given. It’s not like I need to forget your face and your existence altogether. I just need time to myself to reflect on things.”
“I understand. Can…can I—uh, never mind,” Namjoon shook his head, seeming to have an internal argument with himself.
“Finish your thought,” Jimin prompted gently.
“I was going to ask if I could hug you,” Namjoon murmured bashfully and Jimin’s heart clenched at the adorably shy expression.
“Come here,” Jimin said, standing from the booth and opening his arms.
Namjoon jumped off his stool so rapidly he nearly sent it crashing to the floor. Thankfully, his reflexes saved the potential accident from occurring and he was able to steady it with one hand before turning back to Jimin, face as red as a tomato. Jimin chuckled kindly.
“I’ve been told my hugs are magical,” he joked, trying to put them both at ease.
Despite spending so much time together since Jimin offered to create the hotel website, their contact had been restricted to pats on the back or the knee, a few hair ruffles, and once a brief hand hold, but Jimin was sure it had been accidental.
“I don’t doubt that. You remind me of a fairy prince,” Namjoon admitted, bronze skin now a pretty shade of crimson.
“That’s funny because in my head I was referring to you as Prince Charming or someone who just stepped out of a storybook,” Jimin giggled.
“It would be nice to think we were both in a fairy tale…one with a happy ending.”
Jimin gulped as Namjoon came closer, his tall frame towering over him. He knew they were supposed to share an innocent hug, but the proximity was doing strange things to Jimin’s head and he found himself wondering how soft Namjoon’s lips would feel against his. Would he taste sweet? Would he smile into their kiss? Where did he like to put his hands? In Jimin’s hair? So lost was he in this little day dream, he nearly jumped when arms encircled his petite frame and pulled him into a broad chest.
Jimin let out a pleased little hum and breathed in Namjoon’s scent—lavender and salt. Flowers and the sea, two of the things Jimin loved most.
“It’s like you were made to fit between my arms,” Namjoon whispered, lips brushing against Jimin’s ear.
“That’s, uh, quite the line,” Jimin whispered back.
He could feel Namjoon’s answering smile.
“I would like to be the air that inhabits you for a moment only. I would like to be that unnoticed and that necessary,” Namjoon recited softly and Jimin let his eyes shut, resting his head on Namjoon’s shoulder.
“My hugs may be magical, but I think you’re fairy dust incarnate.”
Namjoon stepped back, enough for Jimin to lift his head in confusion until he read the intention in Namjoon’s eyes. Though Namjoon gave him the time to stop it, Jimin had no desire to impede their first kiss. Instead, he pushed up on tip-toe and moved his arms around Namjoon’s neck, shivering at the first contact of their lips.
Everything Jimin had envisioned paled to the reality of Namjoon’s lips gliding against his, equal parts passion and care, gentleness and control. When they parted for air, Jimin dropped back to the balls of his feet and buried his face in Namjoon’s shirt.
“I don’t want to leave you,” he murmured.
“I know, Jimin.”
“…I don’t know what to do.”
“It’s okay. You don’t need to know today. If you decide to leave, I won’t resent you for it. I couldn’t fathom feeling anything negative for you. Ever.”
Jimin sighed, wiggling as close as humanly possible to Namjoon’s warmth, smiling as Namjoon tightened their embrace.
“Do what feels right to you, darling. Your happiness is the only thing that matters,” Namjoon spoke resolutely and Jimin only nodded.
He had no words to offer the beautiful man before him. Not yet.
One Year Later
Seokjin was frazzled. Well, that was nothing new. Stress and insane amounts of work more or less came with the territory when you owned one of the most popular hotels in Valletta. In the year since Jimin and Jungkook came up with the website and marketing campaign, there had been growth in leaps and bounds. Suddenly, every tourist knew who they were and preferred their smaller yet more charming rooms to the perfectly manicured rooms of the big chain hotels.
Business picked up gradually and then exponentially, so that Seokjin was forced to hire a full-time staff of 20. They added a bigger pool, a Jacuzzi, an events coordinator (they had events now!), and a handful of celebrities had stayed in their one suite because it was a trend to find cute boutique hotels and be original instead of localizing the nearest Four Seasons.
All in all, Seokjin was on top of the world and loving it. He was finally saving money again and not crying in his bathtub because he was burning all of his and Namjoon’s safety funds away. He felt more than indebted to his brother for staying in Valletta to help him maintain the business instead of leaving the island to pursue his own career (which he would have had the right to do). That was his baby brother though—selfless to a fault. Truly, the dork ran the risk of being taken advantage of and could be easily manipulated because of his sweet nature.
Thankfully, Namjoon had found Jimin and Jimin matched his tender-heartedness and doubled it. Seokjin didn’t worry about Namjoon’s heart being broken. Not anymore. Not since Jimin.
“Jin!”
Seokjin turned at the sound of the familiar voice and grinned as his brother walked towards him, hand in hand with his boyfriend. It was rare to see one without the other. They moved in sync and worked in the same space as much as possible. Most of Jimin’s work was done on his laptop, so he simply followed Namjoon when he had to move around the hotel. It was precious. His brother’s relationship had made him wonder if monogamy could be just as valuable for him. Seokjin was still weighing the pros and cons, however.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, lovebirds?” Seokjin drawled lazily.
“We have news!”
“You proposed?”
“What?” Jimin blinked.
“Seokjin,” Namjoon growled, face heating up. “I didn’t have plans of proposing,” he turned to Jimin, who raised an eyebrow.
“Ever?”
“Um…not this month anyway,” he smiled sheepishly.
Jimin fixed him with a look of suspicion and Seokjin had to bite back a smile. He had accompanied Namjoon to the jewelry store a week ago, but if Namjoon had some special date in mind, he wouldn’t ruin the surprise.
“You were saying? Chop chop, Namjoonie, you know I’m a busy man. Time is money and all that.”
“You sound like the Wolf of Wall Street,” Namjoon made a face. “Anyway, the news has to do with the hotel, so you should be very interested.”
“Oh?”
“Hoseok Jung wants to come stay at the hotel for all of next week!” Jimin squealed.
“Holy fucking shit. The sexy actor who won last season’s Dancing With the Stars?” Jin’s eyes nearly burst out of his sockets. “How do you know?!”
“He left a comment on the website and as the administrator, I was the one who got to reply,” Jimin responded smugly.
“Hoseok is a talented rapper too. He released a short mixtape and it’s impressive,” Namjoon nodded approvingly.
“Damn, a triple threat. I can’t wait to meet him,” Seokjin grinned.
“…You’re going to try and seduce him, aren’t you?” Namjoon seemed uncomfortable.
“Hell yeah, I am. I was just thinking to myself that a boyfriend would be nice and look what destiny drops in my lap.”
“A boyfriend and not a fuck buddy?” Namjoon seemed surprised.
“Or a casual friend who you have sex with on Fridays?” Jimin chimed in.
“Or a harem?”
“Alright, alright. I get around, you don’t need to spell it out for me,” Seokjin rolled his eyes. “Anyway, a man can change. You should feel honored. It’s because of you two and your heartwarming lovey-doveyness that I’m even considering dating.”
Jimin and Namjoon shared a tender look.
“If my love for Jimin inspires others to seek their own fairy prince, then I am honored,” Namjoon smiled.
“I thought we decided you were the fairy prince,” Jimin grinned up at him.
“Ah, you’re right. I’m the fairy prince and you’re the angel.”
“Am I your angel?” Jimin batted his eyelashes at his boyfriend.
“You’re my whole world, darling.”
Jimin stretched up to kiss the taller blonde, sighing into his mouth.
“I love you,” he hummed.
“And I you,” Namjoon replied, as easy as breathing.
Jin wanted to make a snide comment about how gross their gooiness was but seeing his brother so euphoric with love he just couldn’t. Instead, he took his phone out and snapped a candid of the couple, who were so caught up in each other they didn’t even notice. He would add it to website, he thought to himself, because anyone who came upon it would think to themselves, ‘I can find true love in Valletta? What a special place.’
And it was. Jin knew their mother was smiling down on her two boys from heaven, proud of the men they’d become and the fact that her hotel still stood, proud and tall.